The leaders of the Normandy format expressed resolute support to the cease-fire regime on the occasion of the beginning of a new school year

22 August 2017 - 23:39

The President of Ukraine held a phone conversation with the leaders of the Normandy format – the President of France, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, and the President of Russia.

Petro Poroshenko informed of today’s visit to the town of Shchastia located close to occupied Luhansk, and his meeting there with representatives of forward patrol base of the OSCE SMM, which is permanently based in Stanytsia Luhanska. The President of Ukraine expressed full support to its 24-hour activity in this location.

Petro Poroshenko also called for immediate release of all Ukrainian hostages illegally held in captivity.

As a result of the phone conversation, the leaders of the Normandy format agreed the following joint statement.

Joint Statement

The Heads of State and Government of the “Normandy” format, France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine, held a phone call on August 22, 2017.

They expressed their strong support for the imminent decision of the Trilateral Contact Group on August 23 to announce a ceasefire on the occasion of the beginning of the school year.

The leaders expressed their expectation that such a ceasefire would turn into a sustainable improvement of the security situation, for the benefit of the schoolchildren and for the entire civilian population in Donbas.

On the basis of a sustainable ceasefire, the leaders committed to personally stay engaged in the further implementation of the Minsk agreements.